Rotating sign-illuminating device.



F. M. CARTER. ROTATING SIGN "ILLUMINATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 11,1908.

Patented Feb. 15,1910.

WITNESSES: l/Vl/E/VTUR Fran/r M. C arfer.

time

rice.

FRANK M. CARTER, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

ROTATING SIGN-ILLUMINATING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 15, 1910.

Application filed. November 11, 1908. Serial No. 462,142.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK M. CARTER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in RotatingSign-Illuminating Devices, of which the fllowing is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to signs of the type which are rotated by windpressure, and has specially in view a novel type of illuminatingconnections therefor that will permit of the lights being rotated withthe sign so that all parts thereof may be visible at night.

In carrying out the object of the invention generally stated above itwill, of course, be obvious that the essential features thereof aresusceptible of modifications of details and structural arrangements ascomes firmly within the scope of the appended claims, but a preferredand practical embodiment of the same is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a vertical central sectional view of theimproved sign and its bracket connections. Fig. 2 is a top plan View ofthe sign detached from its supporting brackets. Fig. 3 is a horizontalsectional view of the sign, taken on the line 33, Fig. 1.

Like characters .of reference designate corresponding parts in theseveral figures of the dr wing.

The improved sign is composed primarily of the upper and lower-circularplates 1 and 2 which carry the vertically arranged blades 3 and a thatare relatively arranged so as to be acted upon by the wind from anydirection to impart a rotary movement to the sign, in a manner wellknown.

The upper plate 1 is provided with a plurality of socket openings 5,arranged so that one of such openings will be in the spaces formedbetween each pair of blades of the sign, and through which sockets 6 ofan insulating covering 7 extend, said insulating covering beingpreferably formed of porcelain and having molded therein a conductorplate 8 provided with an upstanding central bearing lug 9 the end ofwhich has a depression 10 formed therein. It will be observed byreference to Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings that the centralportion of the insulating covering is raised to surround the sides ofsaid bearing lug, and that the top portion of said covering graduallyslopes ofi to the outer edge thereof, thereby assuring of the waterbeing shedded on said top to avoid any danger of short circuiting, aswill be explained later on. Lamps 11 are carried by the sockets 6 andhave an ordinary wire connection 12 with said conductor plate 8. Thebottom plate 2 is also provided with an exterior coating of insulatingmaterial 13 and has embedded therein a conductor plate 14: carrying anoutstanding bearing lug 15 which has a central depression 16. An annularflange 17 surrounds the said bearing lug 15 and eX- tends below theplane of the lower edge thereof so as to shield the same from inclementweather. The conductor plate 14 has a wire connection 18 with the lampwires 12 in the upper part of the sign.

Upper and lower supporting brackets 19 have a detachable connection 20with a wall or other support, their outer ends being each provided withan opening 21 in which a slidable holder 22 is mounted and held in thedesired adjustment by means of a set screw or equivalent 2%. Saidholders each have a longitudinal opening or recess 23 fomed therein theentrance to which is surrounded by an enlarged cup shaped flange 24,said flange also surrounding the bearing lugs carried by the insulatingmaterial on both conductor plates, as is shown more clearly in Fig. 1. Apivot pin 25 is mounted in each of said longitudinal openings 23 thepointed end 26 of which projects beyond the entrance to said opening andis seated in the bearing depressions formed in each bearing lug. Saidpivot pins are formed of good conductive material and each has a wireconnection 28 with the source of electrical current supply, not shown.

It will be seen that the lighting circuit of the sign is through theupper pivot pin and its bearing lug and plate, to the lamps, thence tothe lower plate and lug, and

through the lower pivot pin. This arrangement of current supply is suchthat the conductors thereof are utilized to form the bearings for therotation of the sign, all of the parts of which are effectually shieldedfrom water or other foreign material that would be likely to produce ashort circuit.

Another distinctive feature of the invention is in the form of bracketsand holders used, which readily permit of the sign to be removedtherefrom when necessary, and which also permit of adjustments of thepivot pins to compensate for wear upon the point thereof incident to thecontinued to tation of the sign.

Claims 1. A device of the character described, comprising upper andlower supporting brackets, a holder adjustably mounted in each bracket,and having a cup shaped end, a pivot pin mounted in each of said holdersand having its end protected by said cup shaped end, upper and lowerplates, wind vblades supported by said plates, insulating materialcarried by each plate, bearing lugs embedded in said insulating materialand each having its outer end shielded by the cup shaped end of theholder and lamps carried by the upper plate and in a lighting circuitthrough said pivot pins, and the bearing lugs.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a windactuated sign, of a plurality of brackets, a holder in each bracketprovided with an elongated body portion terminating at one end in a downwardly-fianged substantially cup-shaped portion, a pivot pin fixedlysecured within each holder and having its lower end tapered andextending below the body and surrounded by said cup-shaped portion,contacts carried by said sign and adapted to engage each pivot pin,lights carried by said sign, means forming an electrical circuit throughsaid pivot pins, contact means and lights, and means for detachablysecuring said holders to said brackets.

3. In a device of the class described a wind actuated sign, bracketssupporting said sign, said sign comprising a plurality of blades, andend plates with insulating material mounted thereon, bearing plates ingflush with the outer portion thereof,

means carried by said brackets provided with a shield, contact meanscarried by said 7 last-mentioned means and adapted to engage saidsockets in said bearing plates, lamps carried by said sign, and. meansforming an electric circuit through said bearing plates, contact meansand said lamps for supplying a current therethrough.

4. In a device ofthe class described supporting brackets, a holderadjustably mounted in each bracket, a rotatable sign comprising aplurality of blades and end plates, insulating material carried by saidend plates, contact plates embedded in said insulating material, pivotpins embedded in said holders and engaged with said contact plates, saidholders provided with a cupshaped inner end adapted to shield the outerend of said contact plates, said lower insulating material provided witha socket or channel extending around the contact plate, said cup-shapedend of said holder supported by the lower end adapted to fitin saidchannel and said channel acting as a shield for said cupshaped end,lights carried by said insulating material, and means forming anelectric circuit through said pivot pins, contact platesiand lamps forsupply ing a current therethrough.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

FRANK M. CARTER.

itnesses MARTIN CARTER, EDWARD M. PETERSON.

